[LEPS-L:7895] Misinformation?

[Michael Gochfeld]

Ron wrote: 
    Two comments on the above. First, In specifying only "those people" 
on the pro-insecticide side of the debate, the statement infers that it 
is OK for "those people" on the other side of the debate to make out of 
context quotes etc. -- which in fact they are as equally adapt at (or 
guilty of). IF this is so, it is a double standard."

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I cannot agree about equally adept.  Again I'll refer to the scientists 
hired by the tobacco industry to attempt to mislead the public and the 
scientists into believing that "there is really no proof that smoking 
causes lung cancer".  These are well funded, highly professional 
mis-leaders, often equipped with colorful videos and dazzling graphics. 

Most scientists, and certainly those who argued the contrary position 
for years were hardly their equal. 

Pesticides do indeed have benefits which can hardly be said for tobacco, 
but the professional disinformation campaigns are likewise well funded, 
and I do not believe that "those people on the other side of the debate 
are anywhere nearly as adept or guilty".   

The disinformers have re-doubled their efforts to obfuscate issues by 
casting unsupported and undocumented clouds over the opposition. 


Mike Gochfeld 

 

 
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